Not sure if I am really qualified yet, having only been practicing for two and a half months, but I have become very opinionated about Bikram's teachers.
I like strict, honest, down-to-earth teachers. I had a great teacher about a week ago called Mack. He was tough and critical of typical student antics (depending on water and towel, not giving 100 %, sitting postures out, losing focus, etc.) and some people seem to be wary of him, but I thought he was really good. He whipped me into shape and I ended up giving way more effort than I had intended, as I had him on my second class of the day last Saturday, and I was pretty damn tired. He certainly didn't try to make best friends with anyone. He didn't say "try to do this" as teachers often tend to do, he said "do this". I liked that. Despite his gruff way about teaching, it was obvious that he understood our struggles very well and had everybody's best interest in mind. He anticipated student tendencies and explained exactly why we should avoid certain things, and he told us where he fell down as a beginner. I learned a lot that class.
I really dislike flakiness and passive-aggressiveness, generally and especially in class. Teachers need to find the balance between discipline and understanding. Sometimes a teacher will try so hard to come across as nice and understanding (as opposed to "too hard on the class"), and often that does a real disservice to everyone. Students need discipline! They shouldn't flutter around and be all "just try your best, whatever that may be" (although of course that is true, but it's open to interpretation) and then act all surprised when students are sucking back the water, sitting out postures and wiping sweat like crazy. Conversely, they shouldn't order people to get up if they're really feeling sick and lying down, or get strict all of a sudden, out of frustration, as I have also seen.
The teachers aren't there to be your best friend, they are there to take you from the beginning to the end of class so that you get as much benefit as possible. It's a hard job and it takes a lot of effort on their part - this is very obvious. But Bikram's teachers make a huge commitment to get where they are in terms of their own practice and the time and cost of the teacher training, so this isn't a half-assed sort of deal. Therefore, they should explore every avenue for self-improvement - the teacher makes a big difference in class. Maybe it's not like that with other yoga or for more advanced students, but most of the people in class are fairly green, and they need a solid instructor.
One last thought: some of the young women don't seem to have developed the confidence in themselves as people to direct the class completely efficiently. I guess these things come with time. It's just that it seems as though young women comprise a big percentage of teachers and teacher hopefuls, so they need to be good.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
30 Day Challenge: Complete
That's right, I finished the challenge yesterday: thirty classes in thirty days!
Unfortunately, I missed a whopping four days (three were on a Sunday) and consequently had to complete four doubles, the last of which took place on Thursday. It was two classes straight. It was gruesome. The previous two, as I have mentioned, were split up so they weren't so bad, but the first one was also back-to-back. Yikes. Anyway, so although I am proud of myself, of course, I do feel as though I cheated a bit. Next challenge I commit to only one or two doubles. It's not quite the same if you don't go every day, I think.
I wanted to go out with a bang, but I was a mess on Saturday morning. Early morning classes, though they're supposed to be the best, are tough for me because I am so inflexible. I feel like I can't move and I'm frequently in pain. Even Pranayama series was rough. Not helping matters was the fact that I drank wine on Friday night and very little water after Friday evening class -dehydration!! In an attempt to right myself I guzzled down two electrolyte drink packets in my water bottle and did jumping jacks in the handicapped bathroom to warm up. I still ended up having a mediocre class, but floor series was okay. I sat out a couple poses during standing series due to fatigue, mainly. Second set Trikanasana, for instance, was oh you tee.
Teachers have been reminding us that with summer approaching (though you wouldn't know it here in rainy Van) we should increase our water consumption accordingly. I, on the other hand, seem to be going downhill in this department. I used to drink three litres of water a day when I first started (I was terrified of the nausea), but now I'm doing well if I drink a litre and a half. To be honest, I have walked into that class with barely 500 ml plus pop and coffee in me - not good.
The teachers also say that if you're not losing weight (that would be me), you have to cut your eating in half. Huh. In any case, I really want to make a commitment to eating healthier. I spent the weekend in Seattle and although I usually don't monitor my eating while I'm on vacation, (even minuscule vacations like a weekend in Seattle), this was ridiculous. McDonalds, chips, ice cream, (which I don't even like), chocolate, creamy pasta, pizza, pop, not to mention drinking. I need to gain some self-control. To be fair, I am toning up and I am feeling more comfortable with my body, but I still say that nothing works like starving yourself when it comes to losing weight. But that's not right and I know that. AND - it's very short-term. The changes I am making in my body are deep and long-term, and I can really feel that.
I was going to take a two-day break and I still might, but my sister is going to class tomorrow and I will probably want to as well. We'll see. It will be nice to take it easy some days and not go to class if I really don't feel up to it, and the 30 day challenge really interfered with my social life. I am so glad I did it, and I feel a little sad that I won't be able to put a smiley sticker up after every class and get encouragement from people around the studio. Oh well. Officially the challenge is still on (as I started early), so I'll have to serve as motivation for the others.
A quick thought:
Some people in class are damn lazy. What's the point? Unless I'm in seriously rough shape that class (ie tired, hung over), I always ask myself if I am honestly trying my best, and if the answer is no, I shape up.
Unfortunately, I missed a whopping four days (three were on a Sunday) and consequently had to complete four doubles, the last of which took place on Thursday. It was two classes straight. It was gruesome. The previous two, as I have mentioned, were split up so they weren't so bad, but the first one was also back-to-back. Yikes. Anyway, so although I am proud of myself, of course, I do feel as though I cheated a bit. Next challenge I commit to only one or two doubles. It's not quite the same if you don't go every day, I think.
I wanted to go out with a bang, but I was a mess on Saturday morning. Early morning classes, though they're supposed to be the best, are tough for me because I am so inflexible. I feel like I can't move and I'm frequently in pain. Even Pranayama series was rough. Not helping matters was the fact that I drank wine on Friday night and very little water after Friday evening class -dehydration!! In an attempt to right myself I guzzled down two electrolyte drink packets in my water bottle and did jumping jacks in the handicapped bathroom to warm up. I still ended up having a mediocre class, but floor series was okay. I sat out a couple poses during standing series due to fatigue, mainly. Second set Trikanasana, for instance, was oh you tee.
Teachers have been reminding us that with summer approaching (though you wouldn't know it here in rainy Van) we should increase our water consumption accordingly. I, on the other hand, seem to be going downhill in this department. I used to drink three litres of water a day when I first started (I was terrified of the nausea), but now I'm doing well if I drink a litre and a half. To be honest, I have walked into that class with barely 500 ml plus pop and coffee in me - not good.
The teachers also say that if you're not losing weight (that would be me), you have to cut your eating in half. Huh. In any case, I really want to make a commitment to eating healthier. I spent the weekend in Seattle and although I usually don't monitor my eating while I'm on vacation, (even minuscule vacations like a weekend in Seattle), this was ridiculous. McDonalds, chips, ice cream, (which I don't even like), chocolate, creamy pasta, pizza, pop, not to mention drinking. I need to gain some self-control. To be fair, I am toning up and I am feeling more comfortable with my body, but I still say that nothing works like starving yourself when it comes to losing weight. But that's not right and I know that. AND - it's very short-term. The changes I am making in my body are deep and long-term, and I can really feel that.
I was going to take a two-day break and I still might, but my sister is going to class tomorrow and I will probably want to as well. We'll see. It will be nice to take it easy some days and not go to class if I really don't feel up to it, and the 30 day challenge really interfered with my social life. I am so glad I did it, and I feel a little sad that I won't be able to put a smiley sticker up after every class and get encouragement from people around the studio. Oh well. Officially the challenge is still on (as I started early), so I'll have to serve as motivation for the others.
A quick thought:
Some people in class are damn lazy. What's the point? Unless I'm in seriously rough shape that class (ie tired, hung over), I always ask myself if I am honestly trying my best, and if the answer is no, I shape up.
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